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Common Jewelry Repairs

Faber Metalli / Blog  / Common Jewelry Repairs

Common Jewelry Repairs

Today I’ll be explaining some of the most common repairs that are requested or might be recommended.

I can’t give estimated prices, as there can be a huge range based on what metal the ring is made of, how big the ring is, and the extent of what is needed. Instead, this post will give you an idea of what a repair entails and when you might need it.

Ring Sizing

Depending on whether the ring is going up or down in size, a piece of metal is either cut out, or the ring shank is cut and a piece of metal is inserted. Next the ring is soldered together, cleaned up, and polished to a seamless finish.

When to have it done: If the ring feels loose, spins freely, or goes over the knuckle too easily, it is time to size it down. The last thing we want is for you to lose you ring! Alternatively, bring your ring in to size up as soon as soon as it starts to get difficult to put on or take off. While we can cut your ring off your finger, we really don’t want to.

If there is a significant size different between your finger and the knuckle, there are also solutions available to make your ring comfortable to put on, without it spinning while on your finger.

Half Shank

The steps of doing a half shank on a ring is similar to sizing the ring. However, instead of simply adjusting the size, this repair completely replaces the bottom half of the ring.

When to have it done: After many years of regular wear, the base of a ring may wear thin. A thin shank makes the ring more likely to deform or break. The thicker the ring, the less likely it is to need this done.

Retipping/New Heads

When prongs are worn down and need retipping, the metal that sits on top of the stone is replaced by soldering a small piece of metal onto the prongs. Stones other than diamond, ruby, and sapphire will need to be removed and reset to protect them from the heat.

If all or most of the prongs need repair, it is usually better and about the same price to replace the whole head. When this is done, the old head is removed and the new one is soldered into place. The stone is reset in the new prongs.

When to have it done: Ideally, this will be done before your diamond falls out. If you notice your stone seems loose, or that the prongs are catching or don’t come up over the stone, bring it in. We will also check your prongs whenever you bring your ring in for cleaning, so regular visits to the jeweler will ensure your prongs are in good condition.

Rhodium Plating

Most white gold that is sold comes with a rhodium plating to give it a whiter look. To renew this bright white finish, the ring is polished and cleaned thoroughly. It then gets dipped in a cleaning solution, followed by electroplating in a solution of rhodium.

When to have it done: Rhodium plating is aesthetic, so it never needs to be done. However, if you notice that sections of your white gold ring are more yellow than others, and would like to restore its bright white finish, come in for rhodium plating.

Resetting Stones

When your stone is reset, any other stones in your jewelry will also be checked for security. If you have lost your stone, we will do our best to find a replacement.

When to have it done: If a stone falls out, bring it in right away! Don’t banish the piece to the jewelry box and risk losing the stone over time.